UK 
United States
A new robot has come to town, and this one is reducing absenteeism.
The Melbourne-based company Aubot has created a ‘telepresence robot’ that can be controlled by the brain. Dubbed ‘Teleport’, the technology allows users to be in two places at once.
Meaning that not only can business leaders and senior members of staff be present in multiple offices around the world, but those tucked up in bed sick can still attend important meetings.
Marita Cheng, Founder and CEO of Aubot, talks to Mashable about the latter: “Rather than missing out on work when they’re sick, they can send the robot to work. They can still go to meetings at work by putting on this headset and participating via our telepresence robot.
“All someone has to do is think, and the robot will move.”
It is controlled through an EEG headset and was originally designed to allow those with disabilities to visit places remotely. However, Cheng has highlighted numerous other business uses for the robot, including a remedy for absenteeism.
However, a recent study from CV-Library shows that over two-thirds (67.5%) of UK employees go in to work when sick. Furthermore, 86.5% of workers feel much less productive at work when they are unwell and 84% of workers admit they believe they shouldn’t be going in.
Lee Biggins, Founder and Managing Director of CV-Library, comments: “Staff productivity and wellbeing are key contributors to the success of any business and this is why it’s important to promote best practice in the workplace. Breeding a culture that encourages people to come to work when sick is not beneficial to employees or businesses and if workers are clearly ill, they should be advised to go home and recover.”
